Pronouns - Definition, Types and Examples

Have you ever heard of pronouns? Pronouns are most probably the second topic that you would learn in parts of speech. Pronouns are words that are used instead of nouns. In this article, you will learn more about what pronouns are, their definition, types of pronouns and how they are used in sentences.

Table of Contents

• What Is a Pronoun?
  • Definition of a Pronoun
• Types of Pronouns with Examples
• Test Your Understanding of Pronouns
• Frequently Asked Questions on Pronouns in English Grammar

What Is a Pronoun?

A pronoun is used in the place of a noun. It substitutes the noun in a paragraph or piece of writing to avoid repetition of the noun. Pronouns can be used in singular and plural forms. The verb used in the sentence should be used in accordance with the particular form of the pronoun used.

Pronouns are generally classified into three main kinds.

Definition of a Pronoun

A pronoun is defined as ‘a word that is used instead of a noun or a noun phrase’, according to the Cambridge Dictionary. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines pronouns as ‘any of a small set of words (such as I, she, he, you, it, we, or they) in a language that are used as substitutes for nouns or noun phrases and whose referents are named or understood in the context’. According to the Collins Dictionary, ‘A pronoun is a word that you use to refer to someone or something when you do not need to use a noun, often because the person or thing has been mentioned earlier. Examples are ‘it’, ‘she’, ‘something’, and ‘myself’.’

Types of Pronouns with Examples

Pronouns can be classified into different types based on their functions. Given below are the various types of pronouns. Go through the examples carefully to have a clear understanding of each type of pronoun and its function.

• Relative Pronouns are pronouns that are used to relate one part of the sentence to another. Some examples of relative pronouns are that, which, where, when, why, what, whom and whose.
• Possessive Pronouns are pronouns that are used to show possession. Some examples of possessive pronouns are mine, yours, his, hers, theirs and its.
• Reflexive Pronouns are pronouns that are used to refer back to the subject in the sentence. Some examples of reflexive pronouns are myself, yourself, herself, himself, oneself, itself, ourselves, themselves and yourselves.
• Demonstrative Pronouns are pronouns that are used to point to specific objects. Some examples of demonstrative pronouns are this, that, these and those.
• Interrogative Pronouns are pronouns that are used to ask questions. Some examples of interrogative pronouns are who, what, when, why and where.
• Indefinite Pronouns are pronouns that do not refer to any particular person, place or thing. Some examples of indefinite pronouns are someone, somebody, somewhere, something, anyone, anybody, anywhere, anything, no one, nobody, nowhere, everyone, everybody, everywhere, everything, each, none, few, and many.
• Personal Pronouns are simple pronouns that are used to substitute proper names. Some examples of personal pronouns are I, you, he, she, we, they, him, her, he, she, us and them.
• Subject Pronouns are pronouns that perform the action in a sentence. Some examples of subject pronouns are I, you, we, he, she, it, they and one.
• Object Pronouns are pronouns that receive the action in a sentence. Some examples of object pronouns are me, us, him, her and them.
• Reciprocal Pronouns are pronouns that are used to express a mutual relationship. Some examples of reciprocal pronouns are each other and one another.
• Intensive Pronouns are the same as reflexive pronouns, with the only difference being that you can remove the intensive pronoun from the sentence, and the sentence would still make sense.

Test Your Understanding of Pronouns

I. Identify the pronouns and the type of pronoun in the following sentences:

1. I am going home today evening.
2. Her aunt will be vacating next week.
3. She is the girl I was talking to you about.
4. This is the place where I found my missing bag.
5. Did you do it yourself?
6. It was a time when I was so happy.
7. We always help each other out.
8. Has everyone completed the work that was assigned for today?
9. That dog down the street is his.
10. All my friends are coming home for my parents’ 25^th wedding anniversary celebration.

Now, let us check how far you have got it right.

1. I am going home today evening. Personal Pronoun/Subject Pronoun
2. Her aunt will be vacating next week. Possessive Pronoun
3. She is the girl I was talking to you about. Personal Pronoun
4. This is the place where I found my missing bag. Relative Pronoun
5. Did you do it yourself? Personal Pronoun, Intensive Pronoun
6. It was a time when I was so happy. Relative Pronoun
7. We always help each other out. Reciprocal Pronoun
8. Has everyone completed the work that was assigned for today? Indefinite Pronoun
9. That dog down the street is his. Possessive Pronoun
10. All my friends are coming home for my parents’ 25^th wedding anniversary celebration. Possessive Pronoun

II. Use suitable pronouns to substitute the underlined nouns in the following sentences:

1. Josh and Derrick visited Disneyland last month.
2. Sarah did not come home last evening.
3. My mom could not find her cupboard keys.
4. Yesterday was my parents’ wedding anniversary.
5. The cat drank all the milk that was left in the kitchen.
6. Sheela and Teena found it hard to move the sofa set across the hall as the sofa set was too heavy for Sheela and Teena to carry.
7. Divya is Danny’s sister.
8. That silver Brezza belongs to Emmanuel and Usha.
9. My pet dog just lay on the floor the whole day.
10. The teacher asked the students if the students had submitted the students’ assignments.

Check your answers here.

1. They visited Disneyland last month.
2. She did not come home last evening.
3. She could not find her cupboard keys.
4. Yesterday was their wedding anniversary.
5. It drank all the milk that was left in the kitchen.
6. Sheela and Teena found it hard to move the sofa set across the hall as it was too heavy for them to carry.
7. She is his sister.
8. That silver Brezza belongs to them.
9. It just lay on the floor the whole day.
10. The teacher asked the students if they had submitted their assignments.